Toothbrush



ZM /w m May 29, 1928. 1,671,891

J. A. DOLAN TOOTHBIRUSH Filed Sept. 28, 1927 WITNESSES INVENTOR 7 ATTORNEY Patented May 29, 1928.

UNITED STATES- JOHN A. DOLAiT, OF FLORAL PARK, NEW YORK.

TOOTHBRUSH.

Application flled September28, 1927. Serial No. 222,612.

This invention relates to toothbrushes, an object of the invention being to provide a toothbrush, having a ball orsphericalshaped brush at the end of the shank' or handle, which is capable of a wide range of manipulation by reciprocating and rotary motion to most efi'e'ctually clean the teeth.

My improved brush has many advantages over other types of brush, some of which may be enumerated as follows: The ball or spherical'shaped brush fits an shaped mouth or any conformation of teet and can move freely throughout the curves and contour of the jaws and efiectually clean the inner and outer faces of the teeth as well as the cusps, and dislodge any food particles between the teeth.

The brush is capable of a rotary or oscillating motion as well as a reciprocating motion, and the bristles of the brush always tend to throw any food particles outwardly. from the gums and not .press into the gums. The brush may be placed inside the mouth with the jaws partially separated, and a rotary motion imparted to the brush to efiectw ally clean the inner surface of the teeth.

his rotary motion may of course be imparted to the brush while cleaning any portion of the teeth, and the shape or form of the handle or shank of the handle facilitates the operation. The brush most efie'ctually cleans the molars as well as the front teeth both inside and out, and provides an effectual device which does not give discomfort to the user but is most eficient in the performance of its functions.

Withthese and invention consists in certain novel features of construction and combinations and arrangements of parts, which will be more fully hereinafter described and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings- Figure l is a View in elevation showing my improved toothbrush;

Figure 2 is a somewhat enlarged view in longitudinal section through the brush and the shank.

the device into three parts, namely, a handle 1, a shank 2 and a brush 3, but 1t is to be other objects in view, the

For purposes of description I shall divide understood that these parts have fixed relationship and all save the bristles of the brush may be molded or formed into a single, in-

te ral member.

Ihe brush 3 is of spherical form and comprises a ball or spherical enlargement 4 fixed to or integral with the shank 2 and having throughout its surface tufts of bristles 5. It

I will be noted that all the tufts are positioned radially relative to the'axis of the ball or spherical enlargement 4 and that the are so shaped as to form a ball or spherica brush.

The shank 2- is preferably cylindrical in form or, inother words, curved in cross section, and the handle 1 may be of similar "shape or may be of any other desired shape,

and I of course do not limit myself to the particular material employed in forming the handle, shank and ball or enlargement 4 but these parts may be molded or otherwise formed so as to constitute a single integral member. I

In operation, the spherical brush may be positioned anywhere in the mouth and may be given either a reciprocating or a rotary motion. The rotarymotion is imparted by grasping the handle 1 between the thumb and fingers of the hand and rotating or oscillating' the hand; the shank portion 2 being relatively narrow and circular inform permits the brush to'be located against the inner surfaces of the teeth of both jaws, and a rotary motion imparted to the spherical brush to thoroughly clean the inside of the teeth. The outside of the teeth and cusps of the teeth may be cleaned in like manner, and

also a reciprocating or rocking motion may be imparted as desired. I

It will be noted that, by reason of the fact that'the tufts 5 of bristles project radially from my invention and hence I do not limit myself to the ecise details set forth but r consider mysel at hherty to make such changes and the spirit and scope of the I claim:

alterations as fairly fall within appended claims.

1. As a new article of manufacture, a

toothbrush including ical brush head on the a handle and a spherend of the handle.

2. As a new article of manufacture, a toothbrush including a handle, a spherical enlargement or ball on one end of the handle, and tufts of bristles secured to the ball projecting from all faces 0 f the ball and all -on the handle, a spherical enlargement or ball on the end of the in all directions from the ball I shank, and bristles PI0]80tlIl and fixe thereto, said handle, shank and ball or enlargement constituting a single inte%ral member.

igned at New York in the county of New of September A. D. 1927.

' JOHN A. DQLAN York and State of New York this 26th day 

